Chapter 10: Regionals
"I can't believe we're doing those songs for Regionals" I say to Quinn excited. We're in a booth at BreadStix having dinner together; she's wearing a beautiful red dress while I'm wearing a blue plaid shirt, jeans and a brown suede jacket.
"I know. They definitely weren't chosen by Mr. Schue" Quinn says as she takes a bite of her food. "Better yet, there isn't a duet for Finn and Rachel" she adds. "Why's that better?" I ask, curiously. "Because at Nationals last year they had a duet, and they cost the Club the victory" Quinn explains to me. "How'd they do that?" I ask again. "By doing something that we were very close to doing during Sectionals" she reveals, "Kissing" she adds seeing my blank look.
"Oh crap, really?" I'm shocked, but not really. "Yep. Really, Kurt and Mercedes were furious with them both" honestly, so would I. There's a time and place for thing like that, and on stage during a performance isn't one of them.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats as the 2012 Midwest Show Choir Regional Championship is about to begin" the announcement rang out over the speakers. The entire group is nervous as McKinley High is hosting this competition and can't lose on our home turf, but we know that The Warblers are very talented and can give us a run for our money.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the judges for this year's Regional Competition, first she is the DMV's record 10x Employee of the Month...Mrs Meredith Wicks!" the announcer called out as the crowd clapped for her.
"Former Hannah Montana star, Mr Billy Ray Cyrus!" he received one of the loudest ovations I've ever heard in my life.
"And Jangles the Clown!" this judge received a decent cheer considering I'd never heard of him.
"And now coming to you from William McKinley High in Lima, Ohio, it's the 2012 Midwest Show Choir Regional Championship…Introducing first from Warren Township, The Hipsters!" announced the voice-over.
"That was something" I say to Quinn about The Hipsters' Mash-Up of Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus and Jolene by Dolly Parton. "It really was, it was great. I'd never think about doing those two songs" she replies. It's a ten minute break so The Warblers have time to set-up and do last checks.
"And now from Dalton Academy in Westerville, Ohio...The Warblers!" the announcer calls out as they begin vocalizing
"Holy crap! They were freaking unbelievable!" I say to Quinn as they finish up their set. They performed Round and Round by Selena Gomez, More Than A Woman by the Bee Gees and Glad You Came by The Wanted. They were amazing especially their lead vocalist, he was amazing.
"Guys, time for us to head backstage. We've got ten minutes to get warmed up" Mr Schue told us as the crowd cheered The Warblers.
We get backstage to the "Green Room" which was our Choir Room, and we see that a few of The Warblers still their grabbing their stuff.
"Great job guys" Mr Schue says to their lead Sebastian Smythe. "Thanks, good luck. You'll need it" he says as he leaves the room. Boy he was cocky. "Good luck New Directions" says a guy I don't know the name of so I gave him the nickname of Sassy Warbler. "Thanks Trent" I hear Blaine say as the last few Warblers leave the room.
"Alright, guys, we've got about 6 minutes left. So do you warm-ups. And be the best you can be" Schue tells us as he leaves the room.
We do our warm-ups and with about a minute or so left, I decided to try something. "Alright Directioners. This is it. The moment we've been waiting for, Regionals is within our grasp. So let's put our hands in and be a team out there..." I say as I put my hand out. "Oi, Dylan. You're not the captain of the New Directions, me and Rachel are, so you can't tell us what to do" Finn argues.
"And what have you done Frankenteen? What's the Hobbit done? Dylan's trying to bring us together as a team and honestly, it's more then what you two have done" Santana says as she puts her hand in. Before I know it, everyone besides Finn and Rachel have put their hands in.
"Come on guys, we've got to go out there and perform in less than a minute. And we need to do it as one. Otherwise, we can kiss a chance at winning Nationals goodbye" Kurt says, and that brings Rachel in. And I knew Finn would join, which he did.
"After this though, stay in line, Rach and I are the captains" Finn says as he puts his hand in. "On three, we will sing 'New Directions'. Ready? One, two, three" I say. "New Directions" everyone sings in tune as we raise our hands. That's when we head out…
"And now from right here at McKinley High in Lima, Ohio…it's the New Directions!" the announcer calls out as the New Directions Guys took to the stage...
Song: Man in the Mirror
Artist: Michael Jackson
Glee: New Directions Boys
Finn:
I'm gonna make a change, for once in my life
Sam:
It's gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference
Finn:
Gonna make it right...
Puck:
As I, turn up the collar on my favorite winter coat
This wind is blowin' my mind
Blaine and Artie:
I see kids in the street, with not enough to eat
Who am I, to be blind?
Pretending not to see their needs
Karofsky:
A summer's disregard, a broken bottle top
And one man's soul
Matt:
They follow each other on the wind ya' know
Mike and Matt:
'Cause they got nowhere to go
Matt:
That's why I want you to know
Blaine:
I'm starting with the Man in the Mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make that change
ND Boys:
Nanana nanana nana
Artie:
O oh...
Sam:
I've been a victim of a selfish kinda love
It's time that I realize
Sam and Puck:
There are some with no home,
Puck:
Not a nickel to loan
Could it be, really mean,
Karofsky and Dylan:
Pretending that they're not alone?
Mike (w/ ND Boys):
A willow deeply scarred (scarred), somebody's broken heart (heart)
And a washed out dream
ND Boys:
Washed out dream
Kurt:
They follow the pattern of the wind ya see
Matt, Mike and Karofsky:
'Cause they got no place to be
That's why I'm starting with me
Kurt:
I'm starting with the Man in the Mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make that change
Finn, Puck and Dylan:
I'm starting with the Man in the Mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make that change
Dylan (w/ Artie and ND Boys):
I'm starting with the Man in the Mirror (NDB: Oh yeah!)
I'm asking him to change his ways (Artie: change his ways)
And no message could have been any clearer (NDB: Ooh ooh)
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make that change (Artie: Come on!)
ND Boys (w/ Artie):
You gotta get it right, when you got the time
'Cause when you close your (You can't), then close your
(Your) Mind!
Sam (w/ ND Boys):
I'm starting with the Man in the Mirror (Oh yeah)
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer (Ooh ooh)
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make that change
Matt:
Stand Up!
Artie (w/ ND Boys):
Stand Up! (Make a change!)
Karofsky:
Stand Up!
Mike:
Stand Up!
Finn:
Left, yourself now!
ND Boys (w/ Artie):
Man in the Mirror!
(Ooh)
(Ooh) Ah aaah
(Ooh) Ah aaah
Make that change! (Stand Up! Stand Up!)
Puck:
You know!
Karofsky:
You know!
Matt:
You know!
ND Boys:
Man in the Mirror!
Finn:
You know!
Dylan, Artie, Blaine and Sam:
Change!
Mike:
Make That Change!
The crowd erupts as the song comes to a close and the stage darkens and the guys quickly leave the stage as the Glee women get out on stage in position just in time as the music sounds.
Song: Control
Artist: Janet Jackson
Glee: The Unholy Trinity and ND Girls
Quinn:
This is a story about control
My control
Control of what I say
Control of what I do
Brittany:
And this time I'm going to do it my way
Santana:
I hope you enjoy this as much as I do
Quinn:
Are we ready?
I am
'Cause it's all about control
And I've got lots of it
Rachel (w/ Unholy Trinity):
When I was 17 I did what people told me (Uhh)
I did what my father said, and let my mother mold me
But that was long ago
Unholy Trinity:
Control
Tina:
Now I've got a lot
Unholy Trinity:
Control
Tina:
To get what I want
Unholy Trinity:
Control
Mercedes:
Never gonna stop
Unholy Trinity:
Control
Mercedes:
To get what I want
Unholy Trinity:
Control
Rachel:
I got to have a lot
Unholy Trinity:
Control
Rachel:
Now I'm all grown up
Tina:
First time I fell in love, I didn't know what hit me
So young and so naïve, I thought that it would be easy
But now I've got to take
Unholy Trinity:
Control
Lauren:
Now I've got a lot
Unholy Trinity:
Control
Lauren:
To get what I want
Unholy Trinity:
Control
Lauren:
Never gonna stop
Unholy Trinity:
Control
Lauren:
Now I'm all grown up
Rachel:
Jam, woooh woooh
Rebel, that's right
I'm on my own
I'll call my own shots
Thank you
Mercedes:
Got my own mind
I wanna make my own decisions
When it has to do with my life, my life
I wanna be the one in
Unholy Trinity:
Control
Quinn:
So let me take you by the hand, and lead you on this dance
It's what I got, because I took a chance
I don't wanna rule the world, just wanna run my life, Ooh
So make your life a little easier
When you get the chance just take
Santana and Brittany:
Control, ooh ooh
Becky:
Now I've got a lot, ooh
Santana:
Control
Brittany:
To get what I want
Quinn:
Control
Santana:
I'm never gonna stop
Brittany:
Control
Quinn:
Now I'm all grown up, ow!
Tina (w/ ND Girls):
Free at last
I'm here on my own
(Ooh ooh ohh, yeah, eee)
Unholy Trinity:
Now control this, uhh
Lauren:
Cause I've got my own mind
Mercedes:
Gonna make my own decisions
Rachel:
When it has to do with my life
Lauren, Mercedes and Rachel:
I wanna be the one in control
Unholy Trinity (w/ ND Girls):
I'm in Control
(Uhh)
Brittany (w/ ND Girls):
I'm in Control
(Ahh)
Santana (w/ ND Girls):
I'm in Control
(Uhh)
Quinn (w/ ND Girls):
I'm in Control
(Ahh)
The girls finish of their song strong and as the lights dim and while the audience applauded the girls, the guys ran back on stage to their places for our last song, the girls got in their places and awaited for the lights to come back on for our final song.
Song: Black or White
Artist: Michael Jackson
Glee: Artie, Rachel, Kurt, Mercedes, Dylan & Quinn (feat. New Directions)
Arite:
Ow!
Ow!
I took my baby on a Saturday bang
Boy is that girl with you
Yes we're one in the same
Rachel:
Now I believe in miracles
And a miracle has happened tonigh
Hee!
Ah!
Quinn and Dylan:
But, if you're thinkin' about my baby
It don't matter if you're Black or White
Kurt:
Whoo!
They print my message in the Saturday sun
I had to tell them I ain't second to none
Mercedes:
And I told about equality
And it's true
Either
Mercedes and Quinn:
You're wrong
Or you're right
New Directions:
Whoo!
Ahh!
Mercedes and Artie:
But, if you're thinkin' about my baby
It don't matter if you're Black or White
Rachel:
Hee!
Kurt:
Don't babe!
Rachel:
Hehe!
Quinn and Rachel:
I am tired of this devil
I am tired of this stuff
I am tired of this business
So, when the going gets rough
Kurt and Artie:
I ain't scared of your brother
I ain't scared of no sheets
I ain't scared of nobody
Girl, when the goin' gets mean
Dylan:
Protection for gangs, clubs and nations
Causing grief in human relations
It's a turf war, on a global scale
I'd rather hear both sides of the tale
See, it's not about races
Just places, faces where your blood comes from
Is where your space is
I've seen the bright get duller
I'm not going spend my life being a color
Kurt:
Don't tell me you agree with me
When I saw you kicking dirt in my eye
New Directions:
But, if you're thinkin' about my baby
It don't matter if you're Black or White
ND Guys:
I said if you're thinkin' being my baby
It don't matter if you're Black or White
ND Girls:
I said if you're thinkin' being my baby
It don't matter if you're Black or White
Mercedes:
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
Rachel:
Whoo!
Black or White!
Dylan, Quinn, Artie and Rachel (w/ New Directions):
It's black, it's white
It's tough for you to get by
It's black, it's white (Artie: Whoo)
It's tough for you to get by
It's black, it's white
(Rachel: Yeah, yeah, yeah!)
It's tough for you to get by
(Quinn: Black or White!)
It's black, it's white (Artie: Whoo)
It's tough for you to get by
It's black, it's white (Artie: Whoo)
(Santana: C'mon!)
It's black, it's white (Artie: Whoo)
(Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!)
It's tough for you to get by
It's black, it's white (Artie: Whoo)
It's tough for you to get by
(Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!)
(Artie: Woo!)
The crowd erupts they loved us, but whether the judges did or not is a different story. I even noticed that The Warblers were up and dancing, namely Sassy Warbler. As we leave the stage, Quinn and I hold hands. It's intermission so the judges can decide a winner. We're all so nervous, we can't lose on our home turf. Quinn and I get up and walk out of the green room and head to our lockers, no one stops us. "Be back in 10 minutes" Mr. Schue tells us as we leave.
We arrive at the lockers and just sit down. "Quinn, you know how much I love you right?" I ask her, of course she knows. "Of course I do, just like you know how much I love you" she replies to me. "Well, since we're both graduating this year..." I begin to say but she cuts me off. "Don't, I don't want to think about graduation at the moment. I just want to think about how we're going to be going to Nationals and win" Quinn says as Mercedes comes up to us. "Time to head back to the green room, Schue wants to tell everyone something" she says as I help Quinn up and we walk back to the green room.